When she got off the phone, she stood in the doorway and watched Cole work with Mandy. The little girl lay on the floor while Cole’s big hands guided her through her exercises. His patience was endless, but then he’d always been that way about something he truly cared about. When he was a teenager, she’d watched him work horses before he’d left home, and he’d exhibited the same endless patience then, too.

When Mandy began to whine, he teased her into trying just a little harder, then gave her a big hug and kiss for succeeding. They cuddled together, their heads close as they shared secrets and plans Darci wanted to be included in. Her heart ached as she realized she was an outsider to their love. She wanted so desperately to be a part of it, to share in that warmth, to make their very own little family.

When the pizza arrived, Darci was thankful for the reprieve from her thoughts. Any reason for their hasty marriage was now over, and as hard as she tried, she couldn’t come up with any excuse to keep Cole by her side. But she knew she had to make some effort. She wasn’t ready to lose him yet. Her heart demanded more time, just a little longer.

Mandy chattered constantly through the meal, but began to wind down as her tummy filled up. When she drooped in her chair, Cole lifted her into his arms and took her into the bathroom to help her get ready for bed.

After she was tucked in on the couch, Mandy protested that she wasn’t really sleepy. Darci offered to play a movie for her, knowing the little girl wouldn’t manage to stay awake long once she was quiet. Darci slipped a Disney movie into the VCR, then gave in to the urge and kissed Mandy on the forehead before reluctantly returning to where Cole was seated, turning a cup of coffee around in little circles.

The pizza box and paper plates still littered the table, but Darci knew they couldn’t delay their talk any longer. Her heart was aching with the effort she was making not to let herself care too much about the two extra people staying in her home. It would be so easy, create so much happiness for three very lonely people, if they found a way to stay together.

But Cole didn’t love her.

Her hands insisted on picking up the plates, needing something to distract her from what she knew was coming. She wasn’t ready, didn’t want to let Cole and Mandy go yet. But there was nothing to hold them here, nothing to allow her to keep them.